Our Child of the Stars

In this magical, bewitching debut, Molly and Gene Myers’ marriage is on the brink of collapse. Then a child arrives, with a remarkable appearance. Will he bring them together, or tear their whole world apart?Molly and Gene Myers were happy, until tragedy blighted their hopes of children. During the years of darkness and despair, they each put their marriage in jeopardy, but now they are starting to rebuild their fragile bond.

Then the Meteor crashes into Amber Grove, devastating the small New England town – and changing their lives for ever. Molly, a nurse, caught up in the thick of the disaster, is given care of a desperately ill patient rescued from the wreckage: a sick boy with a remarkable appearance, an orphan who needs a mother.

And soon the whole world will be looking for him.

Cory’s arrival has changed everything. And the Myers will do anything to keep him safe.

‘Part ET, part Wonder, part Snow Child, it has the same combination of science fiction and heart-tugging tenderness that Stephen King does so well’ Grazia‘Strong and generous’ Daily Mail‘Big-hearted’ Financial Times‘Wholly fresh and intensely gripping’ Juliet McKenna

Reviews

I loved this book. It was one of those I couldn't put down but didn't want to end. It is beautifully written and certainly stirs the emotions. It is a tale of love, loss, friendship, loyalty and doing the right thing

Sue Tingey, author of the Soulseer Trilogy

Cox takes a straightforward SF idea and turns it into something wholly fresh and intensely gripping. A tightly personal story draws readers deep into a couple's struggle to protect an innocent caught up in (literally) world-shaking events. By looking back to the '60s space race, and what might have been, Cox invites us to muse on events and ideas that have shaped the societies we live in today, and asks us where we might want humanity to go

Juliet McKenna, author of the No.1 bestselling The Green Man's Heir

An uplifting tale of love and kindness

Candis

Rich layers of depth and superbly drawn characters that are a joy to read . . . a finely crafted adventure with pacing that expertly ramps up throughout . . . I tore through it

Dominic Dulley, author of Shattermoon

Sympathetic characterisation and fine storytelling . . . What makes this such a satisfying read, apart from the thrillingly rendered chase (and the refreshing notion that not all aliens are bent on inimical invasion), is the characterisation of Molly and Gene, a childless couple given this one miraculous chance to show love for an adopted son. This is an optimistic take on the ET theme, done without the schmaltz of the film

Guardian

I dare anyone not to fall in love with the Meyers family . . . I could gush about this book forever, so I am just simply going to say, go read it. Read this beautiful, wonderful book

Angie Groves, Waterstones Blackpool

Dark and compelling reading

Irish Examiner

A powerful combination of warm-hearted hope and steely-eyed realism . . . Idealism collides with harsh reality, hope battles violence and a family desperately tries to hold on . . . A heartfelt, richly imaginative and gripping story

A hybrid of more than one genre, a thrilling sci-fi tale that also poses the question of how far a mother will go to keep her precious son safe

Kate Goodman, Mature Times

A gripping, remarkable story that will stay with you days after you've read it. Stephen Cox is the new big name in fantasy

Pulped Machina

An endearing story well told and I would recommend it as an uplifting tale to read on a dark and stormy winter night

Barbara Beaton, My Weekly

Part ET, part Wonder, part Snow Child, it has the same combination of science fiction and heart-tugging tenderness that Stephen King does so well

Grazia

A great SF story, a great story of humanity, full of action but also of heart. Strongly recommended

Blue Book Balloon

An emotional story that is filled with tension and one that has an underlying intensity to it. It is a quietly impactful enchanting story, a poignant portrait of a family life . . . Arevelation. It is something unexpected and something wonderful.I highly recommend it

Tattooed Book Geek

An amazing debut

Rea's Book Review

I got through this in a matter of hours and was hooked . . . Gripping . . . 5 stars

Just Katherine

A story that will touch your heart . . . This heartwarming story reminds you of the lengths parents will go to to protect their children

Amanda J Evans

A gentle science fiction tale that is more about the depth of human compassion than it is whizzy alien technology and laser swords. You don't have to be a science fiction fan enjoy this book . . . Set against the backdrop of a small, decent, American town, Our Child of the Stars celebrates diversity, togetherness and the incomparable depths of human compassion

GeekDad

An out of this world winner

Weekend Sport

A book about flawed, complex people who can do good things . . . If you need some positive science fiction in your life to make you feel less hopeless about the fate of humanity then go read this book

Red Train Blog

A heart-warming read and a book that I believe will appeal to many people who are fans of Sci-Fi and family-oriented fiction in general

Sammy's Shelf

A standout debut . . . I got lost in it and I think you will too

Books and Lovely Things

A captivating tale

BookPhace

This glorious, enchanting novel spellbound me . . . All-powerful and astonishing . . . A very special novel indeed and, even though it's just January, this is a clear favourite for my book of the year

For Winter Nights

An exciting, heart-warming read to brighten up these cold winter months

Kelly Pells, Epping Forest Guardian

This strong and generous first novel wears its heart on its sleeve and embeds all the thrills and chills in credible human, and non-human, emotions

Daily Mail

A pleasing, big-hearted read, its late-1960s setting well evoked

Financial Times

A wonderfully emotional, heart-warming journey of what it really means to be a parent and a reminder that at times it feels like society as a whole hasn't really become any more accepting of those who are different since the 1960s

A good story, that packs danger, curiosity and most of all what it means to be family

Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell

Like a Jodi Picoult novel in a Halloween costume. (In fact, Picoult fans trying out their comfort with speculative fiction might well enjoy starting here, with an author who shares Picoult's craft for producing story from domestic emotional strain.) Appealing to readers of mainstream commercial fiction who might not ordinarily pick up a science fiction novel . . . a creative achievement of its own